Crate Club Review [2019] – Is it worth the price?
So whether you're a prepper, or just looking for some cool survival gear, take a look below at this Crate Club review where you'll learn what it is, the pros and cons of the club, and how to become a member if you feel that Crate Club is a good fit for you.
Contents
What is Crate Club?
via: Crate Club
Crate Club is a tactical subscription box service from SOFREP, the Special Forces News outlet written and curated by former US Special Ops and CIA veterans (many with 10+ years of service.) So when it comes to anything tactical or military-grade...
...These guys definitely know what they're talking about.
And with Crate Club, the guys over at SOFREP take extra care in testing and selecting some of the coolest, highest quality military gear they can find and shipping it right to your door (although they don't always pick the best items, but more on that below.)
Crate Club is just like any other subscription box service in that you can place a one-time gift order, or become a monthly member for a slightly cheaper cost the longer you subscribe for. Memberships auto-renew but you can cancel the auto-renewal at any time for no additional cost.
Recent Crate Club Items
via: Crate Club
Here's a list of some of Crate Club's recent items. All prices are according to Crate Club:
| Image | Product Name | Best Feature | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
 via: Amazon / RATS | ReadyMan RATS Tourniquet | A necessary item for any tactical bag. It's especially useful if you lose a limb. | $17 |
 via: Amazon / READYMAN | ReadyMan Medical Card | Tweezers, needles, safety pins, and so much more, all on a credit card-sized stainless steel card. | $13 |
 via: Amazon / FRESHeTECH | Airlock Bag Resealer - Metallic Edition | Reseal any bag while in the field to keep whatever you're carrying completely dry. | $35 |
 via: Amazon / READYMAN | ReadyMan EDC Belt Sleeve | It slips on your belt, allowing you to carry one more piece of gear. | $7 |
 via: Amazon / Gerber | Gerber EVO Serrated Knife | A nice little Gerber knife with a stainless steel blade. | $39 |
Crate Club Review
via: Crate Club
Here it is... The entire Crate Club review is below.
To have all the facts this review included all the information you'll need to make the smartest purchasing decision possible.
Things to Love About the Crate Club
Joining Crate Club is rather simple and comes with plenty of exciting perks (including an annual club gathering and party in Las Vegas or New York.) But there are plenty of other reasons you should join Crate Club.
With quality items and a strong commitment to customer service, you'll be satisfied knowing your crates are curated by veterans and will make a great gift for you... Or that special someone.
1. Items are Quality Tested by Ex-Special Forces
via: Crate Club
As mentioned above, the guys at Crate Club have the expertise to know which gear is essential for the most intense battles or life-threatening situations... and which gear is crap.
Crate Club doesn't ship crap. They ship industry-standard gear from brands that continually produce quality products. Many of the items you can expect to receive are used by Special Ops and other Military personnel in day-to-day operations and are also perfect for a bugout bag, first aid kit, or home emergency kit.
Some featured brands include Gerber Knives, Triad Flashlights, and Vertx accessories. Exclusive Crate Club branded gear is also included in some boxes.
2. Commitment to Customer Service
via: Pexels / MyStock.Photos
The guys at Crate Club take customer service seriously (it's why they have a live-chat button at the top of their website.) They want repeat customers so they try to be readily available and ensure you speak to a real human if you ever have to contact their support team.
So if there's ever an issue with any of your crates, you can email them at [email protected] or live chat with them Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and they'll do their best to resolve your problem.
3. You're Supporting a Veteran-Owned Company
via: Pexels / Pixabay
The folks at Crate Club are ex-Special Ops and CIA Contractors who have put in 10+ years of service? These guys have probably dealt with more trauma in those 10 years than most of us will have to in our lifetimes.
In fact, one of the curators at Crate Club is Kris "Tanto" Paronto, who you may recognize from the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, which he helped co-author and was featured in... In other words... He survived the September 11th, 2012 Benghazi Attack by Ansar Al-Sharia. Not to mention he was an Army Ranger for 4 years.
These guys did the heavy lifting so we didn't have to. And if supporting the troops is on your top priority list, Crate Club is one way to make that happen.
4. Your Dad Will Love It
via: Pexels / Brett Sayles
Okay, maybe he won't like it (or maybe you're the dad who wants it!) but you probably know someone who will! And that's my point...
Crate Club is the perfect gift for any prepper, military buff, or outdoorsman in your life because each box is filled with useful and tested supplies that are sure to come in handy in a pinch.
And thanks to the monthly subscription plans, a one-month purchase is all you'll need for a one-time gift that's sure to be practical and appreciated.
Things Not to Love About Crate Club
And Crate Club has its fair share of flaws for the average consumer. Take a look below to decide whether or not Crate Club is the subscription box you want showing up on your doorstep every month.
1. No Wooden Crates
via: Pexels / Pixabay
Those fancy wooden crates you see in advertisements and on the Crate Club website aren't what gets shipped to you. At the time of this writing, all orders are delivered in a cardboard box, usually without much packing material like packing peanuts or bubble wrap.
2. The Items Aren't Always Practical, Unique, or Plentiful
via: Pexels / Kaboompics .com
If you don't buy the Premium Crate, don't set your hopes too high for the coolest stuff. The smaller, less expensive crates have fewer items that aren't always useful or something you don't already have (the November 2017 Standard Box came with a Gerber Neck Knife and a Sticker if that tells you anything.)
3. No Refund Policy
via: Unsplash / David Paschke
If you decide to cancel your Crate Club membership, well... That's complicated... You can cancel the auto-renewal (all memberships are auto-renewed) but if you paid for a 6-month subscription, you'll still get a box every month for 6 months... Why?
Crate Club sets aside your order once it's been placed to ensure it ships on time... And because their stock is variable based on how many people are subscribed for a given period, cancellations and refunds would destroy their profit margins. That's business.
However, with some unrelenting dedication (and a little kindness), you can get future shipments refunded... But you may be charged for the shipping of the months you cancelled.
4. You'll Pay Extra For Shipping
via: Pexels / Artem Beliaikin
The shipping costs aren't included in the sticker price so be ready to shell out an additional $5+/shipment. On the bright side, if you don't live in the US, you can still order one!
Pros vs Cons of Crate Club
via: Unsplash / Marten Bjork
Here are the pros and cons of Crate Club from up above...
Pros
- Quality-tested items curated by professionals
- A strong commitment to customer service
- You're supporting veterans
- Crate Club makes a GREAT gift. You'll give some truly cool gear.
Cons
- Crates come in a cardboard box instead of a wooden crate
- Refunds aren't easy to obtain
- Shipping is not shown in the sticker price
- The items aren't always the best or most practical survival items.
Crate Club Price
via: Pexels / Acharaporn Kamornboonyarush
Crate Club has 4 crate sizes at different price points as well as crate-specific gear. The Standard Crate is the cheapest, followed by the Pro Crate, The newly-released Operator Crate and finally, the Premium Crate, which is the most expensive and is described as "The Holy Grail of Gear Subscriptions, with an emphasis on hard to get, exclusive gear."
Here's a breakdown of each crate:
| Image | Subscription Plan | Features | Quarterly Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 via: Crate Club | Lieutenant Crate | Comes with 2+ items. | $49.99 |
 via: Crate Club | Captain Crate | Comes with 3+ items and unique pro-level gear. | $99.99 |
 via: Crate Club | General Crate | Comes with at least 4 items and has "...some of the best gear around that won't let you down." | $399.99 |
Crate Club Shipping Breakdown
via: Unsplash / Kelsey Knight
Crate Club ships to all US States as well as internationally. As mentioned above, shipping is not included in the sticker price and is calculated based on location.
- US orders ship via DHL eCommerce and are delivered through the US Postal Service.
- Premium Crates are shipped via UPS
- For International, Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, and Diplomatic Post Office shipments, the US Postal Service is used.
Is the Crate Club worth it?
via: Pexels / Ryan Lim
Crate Club does send high-quality products that will last you a long time... But at the end of the day...
You'll see in this Crate Club review that it does make a great gift! Mainly because it's much easier to have experts find high-quality tactical items for a friend or family member...
Especially when you have no idea what to look for.
Want to get this box for yourself or as a gift for someone?
How to Join the Crate Club
via: Crate Club
Wanna get your paws on hand-selected, quality-tested survival gear but don't know where to start? Follow these steps to join Crate Club.
1. Choose Your Crate
via: Crate Club
On the home page, navigate to the crate options by either clicking on "See our crates" or scrolling until you arrive at that section. Selecting a crate will open a subscription summary. If you're happy with your choice, select "Proceed to Checkout." If not, select "Go back."
2. Enter Your Details + Create an Account
via: Depositphotos / gpointstudio
Proceeding to checkout will open a new page where you can enter your shipping and billing information. You must create an account (it's so they can more easily manage orders.)
3. Don't Forget the Promo Code!!!
via: Depositphotos / olly18
There's a section on the left-hand side of the screen (if you're using a computer) where you can enter and apply a promo code.
4. Check Out and Chill Out
via: Depositphotos / Wavebreakmedia
Once you place your order, kick back, relax, and wait 7-10 business days (sometimes less!) for your order to ship.
More Great Survival Boxes
If Crate Club isn't your ideal box of cool gear, no worries... There are plenty of other survival boxes to choose from.
- Spec Ops Global is a reasonable alternative to Crate Club. If you're looking for your next survival box, it might be for you.
- Another survival box worth checking out is Prepper Gear.
- For those of you who can't get enough knives, the Knife Box was made just for you.
In Conclusion: The Bottom Line
With this Crate Club review, you'll see that Crate Club is one of many survival boxes on the market right now and while it has its shortcomings, it's not terrible if you can afford it.
Be sure to check out other subscription box reviews!
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